Autograph hunter Paul Bradley had met the star numerous times and was even invited to his home in Thame, Oxfordshire.

Mr Bradley is a member of the Heritage Foundation, a charity which sees figures from the entertainment world working to support good causes.

Robin Gibb was president of the foundation for three years and recently handed the role over to Allo Allo actress Vicki Michelle.

During this time, Mr Bradley got to know the Bee Gees star at various charity events, and received a signed Christmas card from him.

Mr Gibb also make an appearance in his book, Paul Bradley’s Galaxy of Stars, which documents his extraordinary hobby, which has led him to meet thousands of celebrities.

Mr Bradley, who works locally as a gardener, said: “He was fabulous. He was very supportive and so was his wife Dwina.

“He was always very friendly and pally, and was happy to have his picture taken.

“I think his music was absolutely fabulous and I was lucky to see him sing live at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.”

He added that he was saddened to hear about his death, especially as Mr Gibb had been so closely involved in a campaign to have a Bomber Command memorial erected in London’s Green Park, which is due to be unveiled this summer.

He said: “He was heavily involved in the campaign and I know he would have loved to have seen the memorial unveiled.”

A spokesman from the Bomber Command Association paid tribute, saying: “It is a tragedy that Robin will not see the finished article. But Robin did his bit for all who served in Bomber Command and on the behalf of the veterans and the relatives of those who died in the Second World War. I, we would simply like to say, ‘thank you’.”

Scarborough DJ Charles White, AKA Dr Rock, also paid tribute to the star, saying he had a bigger impact on music than Michael Jackson.